Nasal cannula device

ABSTRACT

A nasal cannula device includes a cannula body. The cannula body includes an accommodating chamber inside and includes two nasal joint tubes extended outwardly and communicating with the accommodating chamber. A junction ring is formed between the cannula body and each nasal joint tube. At least one of the cannula body and each nasal joint tube includes a recessed annular section recessed at one side of each junction ring. The recessed annular section has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the cannula body, a thickness of each nasal joint tube, and a thickness of each junction ring. Accordingly, the nasal cannula device can deliver a therapeutic gas smoothly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a medical respiratory treatment deviceand, in particular, to a nasal cannula device.

BACKGROUND

A nasal cannula device is one of medical respiratory treatment devices,and is inserted in the nostrils of a patient and used to deliversupplemental oxygen or a humidified therapeutic gas to the patient'srespiratory tract.

A conventional nasal cannula device includes a cannula body and twonasal joint tube and a wearing member assembled to the cannula body. Thecannula body is connected to a gas delivery tube, the nasal joint tubesare inserted in a patient's two nostrils, the wearing member is put onthe patient's head, and a therapeutic gas is delivered into a nasalcavity of the patient through in sequence the gas delivery tube, thecannula body and the nasal joint tube.

However, the nasal cannula device has the following disadvantages. Thenasal joint tube has a narrow bore and a thin tube wall, so the nasaljoint tube easily bends and deforms when it is under stress. The farthera bent portion of the nasal joint tube is from the body, the more thebent portion can deform, which could cause closing of the nasal jointtube and jeopardize the patient's health. Therefore, the industries aimto provide a nasal cannula device which can prevent the nasal joint tubefrom being closed by stress on the nasal joint tube.

In view of this, the inventor studied various technologies and createdan effective solution in the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a nasal cannula device. When a nasaljoint tube is under stress, the stress is mainly directed to therecessed annular section to thereby prevent deformation of otherportions of the nasal joint tube. By this way, the nasal cannula devicecan deliver a gas smoothly.

The present invention provides a nasal cannula device. The nasal cannuladevice includes a cannula body. The cannula body includes anaccommodating chamber inside and includes two nasal joint tubes extendedoutwardly and communicating with the accommodating chamber. A junctionring is formed between the cannula body and each of the nasal jointtubes. At least one of the cannula body and each nasal joint tubeincludes a recessed annular section recessed at one side of each of thejunction rings. The recessed annular section has a thickness smallerthan a thickness of the cannula body, a thickness of each nasal jointtube and a thickness of each junction ring.

Accordingly, when the nasal joint tube is under stress, the stress ismainly directed to the recessed annular section since it has thethinnest thickness, so other portions of the nasal joint tube isprevented from deformation, and only the recessed annular sectiondeforms. Connected to the junction ring, a portion of the recessedannular section close to the junction ring thus has sufficient strengthto resist deformation and is prevented from being overly bent to causeclosing of the nasal joint tube. As a result, the recessed annularsection does not overly bend to close the nasal joint tube, andtherefore the nasal cannula device can deliver the therapeutic gassmoothly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detaileddescription and the drawings given herein below for illustration only,and thus does not limit the disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a nasal cannula deviceaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a cannula body and ahollow base of the nasal cannula device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective assembled view illustrating the cannula body andthe hollow base of the nasal cannula device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the nasal cannula deviceaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view illustrating the hollow base and aflexible over-ear supporter of the nasal cannula device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective assembled view illustrating the hollow base andthe flexible over-ear supporter of the nasal cannula device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective assembled view illustrating the hollow base anda gas delivery tube of the nasal cannula device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the nasal cannuladevice according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the nasal cannuladevice according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the nasal cannuladevice according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective assembled view illustrating the nasal cannuladevice according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed descriptions and technical contents of the present disclosureare illustrated below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.However, it is to be understood that the descriptions and theaccompanying drawings disclosed herein are merely illustrative andexemplary and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 7 for a nasal cannula device according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention. The nasal cannula device 10includes a cannula body 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the cannula body 1 includes an accommodatingchamber 11 inside and includes two nasal joint tubes 12. The two nasaljoint tubes 12 are extended outwardly and communicate with theaccommodating chamber 11. A junction ring 13 is formed between thecannula body 1 and each nasal joint tube 12. At least one of the cannulabody 1 and each nasal joint tube 12 include a recessed annular section14 a recessed at one side of each junction ring 13. The recessed annularsection 14 a has a thickness d smaller than a thickness a of the cannulabody 1, a thickness b of each nasal joint tube 12 and a thickness c ofeach junction ring 13.

In detail, each recessed annular section 14 a has an outer surface 121and an inner surface 122. According to the present embodiment, eachrecessed annular section 14 a is recessed from the outer surface 121 ofeach nasal joint tube 12. Each recessed annular section 14 a has alength e equal to or shorter than one half of an inside diameter f ofeach recessed annular section 14 a.

Furthermore, a block ring 123 protrudes outwardly from the outer surface121 of each nasal joint tube 12, and each recessed annular section 14 ais disposed between each junction ring 13 and each block ring 123. Eachjunction ring 13 is a conical annular block 15 protruding outwardly fromthe cannula body 1. Each conical annular block 15 has an outer surface151 and an inner surface 152. The inner surface 152 of each conicalannular block 15 includes a rounded surface 153.

Furthermore, the cannula body 1 includes a top surface 16, a left sidesurface 17 and a right side surface 18. The two nasal joint tubes 12 areextended from the top surface 16. The left side surface 17 includes afirst through hole 171 communicating with the accommodating chamber 11,and the right side surface 18 includes a second through hole 181communicating with the accommodating chamber 11.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the nasal cannula device 10 includes a hollowbase 2. The hollow base 2 is inserted through the first through hole 171and the second through hole 181 and disposed in the accommodatingchamber 11, so that the cannula body 1 receives the hollow base 2. Thecannula body 1 consists of rubber or silicon, and the hollow base 2consists of plastic; however, the present invention is not limited inthis regard.

Moreover, the hollow base 2 includes a top end 21, a left end 22 exposedfrom the first through hole 171, a right end 23 exposed from the secondthrough hole 181, and a gas chamber 24. An opening 211 communicatingwith the gas chamber 24 is disposed on the top end 21. The opening 211is disposed corresponding to the two nasal joint tubes 12. One of theleft end 22 and the right end 23 is a closed end 25 closing the gaschamber 24, and the other one of the left end 22 and the right end 23 isa connection tube 26 communicating with the gas chamber 24. The gasdelivery tube 100 is coupled to the connection tube 26 and communicateswith the connection tube 26.

Furthermore, the cannula body 1 includes an annular recess 19 inside. Anannular wall 212 is extended from the top end 21, an annular flange 213protrudes outwardly from an end portion of the annular wall 212, theannular flange 213 is engaged with the annular recess 19 to make thecannula body 1 and the hollow base 2 assembled firmly and stably, andthe opening 211 is formed within the annular flange 213.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the present embodiment, the connectiontube 26 is formed at the right end 23 of the hollow base 2, and the gasdelivery tube 100 is disposed at the right side of a patient.Alternatively, the hollow base 2 can be turned 180 degrees and thenreceived in the cannula body 1, so that the connection tube 26 isdisposed at the left end 22 of the hollow base 2, and the gas deliverytube 100 is disposed at the left side of the patient. By turning thehollow base 2 180 degrees, the connection tube 26 can be disposed at theleft end 22 or the right end 23 of the hollow base 2.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 5 to 7, the nasal cannula device 10further includes two flexible over-ear supporters 3, a C-shaped fastener31 is extended from one end of each flexible over-ear supporter 3, andan over-ear leg 32 is extended from the other end of each flexibleover-ear supporter 3. One of the C-shaped fasteners 31 is fastened tothe left end 22, the other C-shaped fastener 31 is fastened to the rightend 23. One end of the flexible over-ear supporter 3 is assembled to ordetached from the hollow base 2 by means of the C-shaped fastener 31,and the other end of the flexible over-ear fastener 3 is rested on oneear of the patient. The flexible over-ear supporter 3 is slightlydeformable to fit the patient's head and increase wearing comfort.

Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5 to 7 for the nasal cannula device 10in use. The two nasal joint tubes 12 are inserted in two nostrils of thepatient. A therapeutic gas is delivered into the nostrils of the patientthrough in sequence the gas delivery tube 100, the connection tube 26,the gas chamber 24, the opening 211, the nasal joint tubes 12 forrespiratory therapy.

Moreover, each nasal joint tube 12 includes a recessed annular section14 a recessed at one side of each junction ring 13, the recessed annularsection 14 a having a thickness d smaller than a thickness a of thecannula body 1, a thickness b of each nasal joint tube 12 and athickness c of each junction ring 13. Therefore, when the nasal jointtube 12 is under stress, the stress is mainly directed to the recessedannular section 14 a since it has the thinnest thickness d, so otherportions of the nasal joint tube 12 is prevented from deformation, andonly the recessed annular section 14 a deforms. Connected to thejunction ring 13, a portion of the recessed annular section close to thejunction ring 13 thus has sufficient strength to resist deformation andis prevented from being overly bent to cause closing of the nasal jointtube 12. Therefore, the recessed annular section 14 a does not overlybend to close the nasal joint tube 12, and therefore the nasal cannuladevice 10 can deliver the therapeutic gas smoothly.

Each recessed annular section 14 a has a length e equal to or shorterthan one half of an inside diameter f of each recessed annular section14 a. Because the length e is short, when the recessed annular section14 a bends inwardly, a tube opening of the recessed annular section 14 ais not closed by bending of the recessed annular section 14 a. In otherwords, the nasal joint tube 12 is not closed by bending of the recessedannular section 14 a, and as a result, the nasal cannula device 10 candeliver the therapeutic gas smoothly.

Furthermore, the block ring 123 protrudes outwardly from the outersurface 121 of each nasal joint tube 12, each junction ring 13 is theconical annular block 15 protruding outwardly from the cannula body 1,and the inner surface 152 of each conical annular block 15 includes therounded surface 153. Accordingly, when the nasal joint tube 12 isinserted into the nostril of the patient, the block ring 123 and theconical annular block 15 are in contact with an inner surface of thenostril, and thereby the inner surface of the nostril does not makelarge-area contact with the cannula body 1 and the nasal joint tube 12.This configuration improves wearing comfort of the nasal cannula device10. In addition, the rounded surface 153 having a curved smooth surfaceprevents airflow interference or noises from occurring when thetherapeutic gas passed by the rounded surface 153.

Please refer to FIG. 8 illustrating the nasal cannula device 10according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The secondembodiment is similar to the first embodiment with the difference thateach recessed annular section 14 b of the second embodiment is recessedfrom the inner surface 122 of each nasal joint tube 12. The recessedannular section 14 b having the thickness d smaller than the thickness aof the cannula body 1, the thickness b of each nasal joint tube 12 andthe thickness c of each junction ring 13. When the nasal joint tube 12is under stress, the stress is mainly directed to the recessed annularsection 14 b since it has the thinnest thickness d, and therefore thesecond embodiment achieves the same effects and provides the samefunctions as the first embodiment.

Please refer to FIG. 9 illustrating the nasal cannula device 10according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The thirdembodiment is similar to the first embodiment with the difference thateach recessed annular section 14 c of the third embodiment is recessedfrom both the inner surface 122 and the outer surface 121 of each nasaljoint tube 12. The recessed annular section 14 c having the thickness dsmaller than the thickness a of the cannula body 1, the thickness b ofeach nasal joint tube 12 and the thickness c of each junction ring 13.When the nasal joint tube 12 is under stress, the stress is mainlydirected to the recessed annular section 14 c since it has the thinnestthickness d, and therefore the third embodiment achieves the sameeffects and provides the same functions as the first embodiment.

Please refer to FIG. 10 illustrating the nasal cannula device 10according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourthembodiment is similar to the first embodiment with the difference thateach recessed annular section 14 d of the fourth embodiment is recessedfrom the outer surface 151 of each conical annular block 15.

In detail, each recessed annular section 14 d is recessed from the outersurface 151 of each conical annular block 15. The recessed annularsection 14 d having the thickness d smaller than the thickness a of thecannula body 1, the thickness b of each nasal joint tube 12 and thethickness c of each junction ring 13. When the nasal joint tube 12 isunder stress, the stress is mainly directed to the recessed annularsection 14 d since it has the thinnest thickness d, and therefore thefourth embodiment achieves the same effects and provides the samefunctions as the first embodiment.

Moreover, the recessed annular section 14 d is formed on the cannulabody 1. Therefore, deformation of the recessed annular section 14 d doesnot affect a tube opening of the nasal cannula tube 12. As a result,there is no limitation on the length of the recessed annular section 14d.

As can be appreciated from FIGS. 4, 8 and 9, each recessed annularsection 14 d is recessed from the outer surface 151 of each conicalannular block 15. Alternatively, each recessed annular section 14 d canbe recessed from the inner surface 152 of each conical annular block 15,or each recessed annular section 14 d can also be recessed from both theouter surface 151 and the inner surface 152 of each conical annularblock 15.

Please refer to FIG. 11 showing the nasal cannula device 10 according tothe fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment issimilar to the first embodiment with the difference that the nasalcannula device 10 further includes an elastic fabric cover 4. Two endsof the elastic fabric cover 4 receive the two over-ear legs 32,respectively, so that the flexible over-ear supporter 3 and the elasticfabric cover 4 can surround and closely fit the patient's head, and thusthe nasal joint tube 12 is more stably inserted in the patient's nasalcavity and prevented from being offset or detached from the nasalcavity.

In summary, the nasal cannula device 10 of the present invention canachieve anticipated objectives and solve the conventional defects. Thepresent invention also has industrial applicability, novelty andnon-obviousness, so the present invention completely complies with therequirements of patentability. Therefore, a request to patent thepresent invention is filed pursuant to patent law. Examination is kindlyrequested, and allowance of the present application is solicited toprotect the rights of the inventor.

What is claimed is:
 1. A nasal cannula device, comprising: a cannulabody, the cannula body including a body portion defining anaccommodating chamber inside, a nasal joint tube communicating with theaccommodating chamber, and a junction ring formed between the bodyportion and the nasal joint tube, the nasal joint tube including a tubesection and a recessed annular section between the tube section and thejunction ring, the recessed annular section having a thickness smallerthan a thickness of the body portion, a thickness of the tube section,and a thickness of the junction ring, wherein a cross-section of therecessed annular section that extends from the junction ring to the tubesection is substantially straight.
 2. The nasal cannula device accordingto claim 1, wherein the recessed annular section is recessed from one orboth of an outer surface and an inner surface of the nasal joint tube.3. The nasal cannula device according to claim 1, wherein the recessedannular section has a length equal to or shorter than one half of aninside diameter of the recessed annular section.
 4. The nasal cannuladevice according to claim 1, further comprising a block ring thatprotrudes outwardly from an outer surface of the nasal joint tube,wherein the recessed annular section is disposed between the junctionring and the block ring.
 5. The nasal cannula device according to claim1, wherein the junction ring is a conical annular block protrudingoutwardly from the body portion.
 6. The nasal cannula device accordingto claim 5, wherein an inner surface of the conical annular blockincludes a rounded surface.
 7. The nasal cannula device according toclaim 1, further comprising a hollow base, the body portion including atop surface, a left side surface and a right side surface, the nasaljoint tube being disposed on the top surface, the left side surfaceincluding a first through hole communicating with the accommodatingchamber, the right side surface including a second through holecommunicating with the accommodating chamber, the hollow base beinginserted through the first through hole and the second through hole anddisposed in the accommodating chamber.
 8. The nasal cannula deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the hollow base includes a top end, a leftend exposed from the first through hole, a right end exposed from thesecond through hole, and a gas chamber, an opening communicating withthe gas chamber is disposed on the top end, the opening is disposedcorresponding to the nasal joint tube, one of the left end and the rightend is a closed end closing the gas chamber, and the other one of theleft end and the right end is a connection tube communicating with thegas chamber.
 9. The nasal cannula device according to claim 8, whereinthe body portion includes an annular recess inside, an annular wall isextended from the top end, an annular flange is extended outwardly froman end portion of the annular wall, the annular flange is engaged withthe annular recess, and the opening is formed within the annular flange.10. The nasal cannula device according to claim 8, further comprising:two flexible over-ear supporters; an elastic fabric cover; two C-shapedfasteners, each of which is extended from one end of a respective one ofthe flexible over-ear supporters; and two over-ear legs, each of whichis extended from the other end of the respective one of the flexibleover-ear supporters, wherein one of the C-shaped fasteners is fastenedto the left end, the other of the C-shaped fasteners is fastened to theright end, and the two over-ear legs are received in two ends of theelastic fabric cover respectively.
 11. The nasal cannula deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a second nasal joint tubecommunicating with the accommodating space; and a second junction ringformed between the body portion and the second nasal joint tube, thesecond nasal joint tube including a second tube section and a secondrecessed annular section between the second tube section and the secondjunction ring, the second recessed annular section having a thicknesssmaller than the thickness of the body portion, a thickness of thesecond tube section, and a thickness of the second junction ring.
 12. Anasal cannula device comprising: a cannula body including; a bodyportion; and a nasal joint tube including a tube section and a recessedannular section between the body portion and the tube section, whereinthe recessed annular section has a smaller thickness than the tubesection and a substantially uniform diameter, an inside diameter of therecessed annular section is larger than an inside diameter of the tubesection, and an outside diameter of the recessed annular section issubstantially equal to an outside diameter of the tube section.
 13. Anasal cannula device comprising: a cannula body including; a bodyportion; and a nasal joint tube including a tube section and a recessedannular section between the body portion and the tube section, whereinthe recessed annular section has a smaller thickness than the tubesection and a substantially uniform diameter, wherein an inside diameterof the recessed annular section is larger than an inside diameter of thetube section and an outside diameter of the recessed annular section issmaller than an outside diameter of the tube section.
 14. A nasalcannula device comprising: a cannula body including: a body portion; anasal joint tube; and a junction ring between the body portion and thenasal joint tube, having a conical shape, and including opposite endsections and a recessed annular section between the end sections,wherein a thickness of the recessed annular section of the junction ringis smaller than a thickness of the nasal joint tube.
 15. The nasalcannula device according to claim 14, wherein the end sections of thejunction ring have a thickness larger than the thickness of the nasaljoint tube.
 16. The nasal cannula device according to claim 14, whereinthe recessed annular section is formed with a recess that extends froman outer surface toward an inner surface of the junction ring.
 17. Thenasal cannula device according to claim 14, wherein: the body portiondefines an accommodating space, includes opposite side surfaces, each ofwhich is formed with a through hole communicating with the accommodatingspace, and a top surface between the side surfaces; and the nasal jointtube and the junction ring are disposed on the top surface.